Investment Community Breakfast 2017

2017-12-11

Nearly 300 investment professionals came out to support City Year Boston’s 9th annual Investment Community Breakfast, presented by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Our inspired sponsors and attendees raised more than $492,000 in support of our City Year Boston AmeriCorps members serving 12,000 students in 23 Boston Public Schools across the city.

Guests heard an inspirational program featuring Bob White, founding partner of Bain Capital and Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School. As Bob shared:

"City Year has a profound impact on the corps members who serve. Their service years reinforce their desire to change the world and demonstrate the power that one can have on many...Great organizations like City Year need our help. They're confident that they can change lives – they know that they can do that. But what they need to count on is people like us who will be there to support them and their mission."

Bob has played a pivotal role in the growth of one of the world’s largest and most successful private equity and investment firms, as well as campaigns for public office. He is exemplary of the many ways in which investment professionals can support our cities, schools, and students. As a longtime champion and the parent of a City Year Boston alumna, we are grateful for Bob’s commitment to City Year.

Bob’s continued belief in the power of young people supports AmeriCorps members like Joe Katusich serving at the Guild Elementary School in East Boston. Joe, no stranger to hard work, shared stories of how he committed himself to his students' success. Despite being budding leaders in the classroom, they often struggled to stay focused and engaged in their academics. Joe worked with his partner teacher to create individualized plans to help them stay on track. From sticky note reminders to help minimize classroom disruption, to using Connect Four to uncover a student's unique learning needs, Joe took the time to get to know his students and what would help them best excel.

While Joe’s students are unique, this near-peer relationship is mirrored throughout Boston Public Schools as our 289 AmeriCorps members develop bonds to help students reach their full potential. It is exactly these types of relationships that City Year Boston alumnus Kevin Dua ('10, '11) continues to practice while teaching at Cambridge Rindge & Latin. Kevin shared how impactful City Year has been in his own life, having helped inspire his commitment to become a full-time educator and culminating in his selection as the 2017 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year. As he noted, investing in BPS students and AmeriCorps members like Joe is also an investment in alumni like Kevin, who continue to make a difference in their communities.

We would like to sincerely thank all of our generous guests and champions for investing in City Year’s work. If you missed the event or would like to support City Year Boston; donate here. Looking for more ways to engage with CYB? See more stories like Joe's on social or find service events on our Volunteer page.